FINLAND: Russian dies during sauna world championships

Record ID: 742947

  • Title: FINLAND: Russian dies during sauna world championships
  • Date: 8th August 2010
  • Summary: LADYZHENSKIY AND KAUKONEN BATTLING IN THE FINAL
  • Embargoed: 23rd August 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Finland
  • Country: Finland
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA36X75TLZI3CVAPUSIXIOV65YZ
  • Story Text: One man has died and another is seriously injured after participating in the annual sauna world championships in Finland on Saturday (August 7).
    The two finalists, Vladimir Ladyzhenskiy from Russia and Timo Kaukonen from Finland collapsed after spending about six minutes in a sauna heated to 110 degrees Celsius.
    Paramedics conducted CPR on the men who had serious burns and were bleeding from open sores. Ladyzhenskiy died shortly after coming out of the sauna.
    Kaukonen was rushed to hospital for treatment. His condition is unknown. Kaukonen was the defending champion and has won the title five times.
    Before the final Kaukonen said this year's saunas were particularly hot.
    "Everybody knows that saunas for the finals are extremely hot, but for the ones they use for this year, those are the toughest ever," he said.
    He added that the semi-finals had been challenging and that he was dreading the final.
    "During today's semis I've been twice already in those saunas and my eyelids are getting red already and I've got a vesicle on my fingers. It doesn't feel good to get in there any more but I will squeeze my teeth once more and let's see where it leads," Kaukonen added.
    The competition was immediately stopped after the accident. Police are investigating the tragedy.
    The head of the competition Ossi Arvela says the organizers are deeply saddened by the event.
    On the official website Arvela states that all security requirements were in place with enough first aid personnel. He says all contestants supplied medical certificates on entering the competition.
    Ladyzhenskiy and Kaukonen were considered favourites in the competition.
    Six men participated in the final. Half a liter of water is poured on the sizzling sauna stoves every 30 seconds. Rules say the contestants have to leave the sauna when they no longer can cut the heat. The last person remaining wins the competition.
    135 men and women from 15 countries participated in the 12th annual sauna championships in Heinola, Finland. The village is located 138 km north of Finnish capital Helsinki.
    Finland has experienced its warmest summer in 90 years. On Saturday temperatures outside also rose to 32 degrees Celsius.
    Arvela has told Finnish media he believes the world championships will not be organized again.
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